No. 4: Bleu Soie, a blue with a healthy dose of violet (despite its blue appearance in the pot. This has a bare hint of sparkle, which is almost undetectable on skin.

No. 6: Kaki Brocart, a green khaki with a hint of gray

No. 9: Brun Cachmeire, a rich soft brown

Swatches:

Unlike some color cream shadow, these Givenchy Ombre Coutures are more of a sophisticated whisper than a shout. They sheer down in a beautiful way–even the deepest color can be applied with the softest touch to give the barest hint of color. Certainly, it is easy to apply them with full force. However, even at their most dense, the color range seems infused with a soft gray undertone which keeps the color from being too much. Here are all colors with the No. 1 Blanc Satin applied, which gives them a little twinkle that is hard to pick up under our cloudy California skies (same order as above).

The texture of these is very fine. As you might expect from Givenchy, they melt onto the lids and never emphasize any lines or imperfections. The pigment is in a very efficient base–there’s no caking to be found even when these are applied as strong colors. I’ve been using my fingers to apply them. They blend well, including blending with powder shadows.

Overall, recommended for those interested in a sophisticated version of a cream shadow.